Every party has a pooper, and that’s why we invited Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell to finally put the kibosh on the heady, freewheeling nonstop bacchanal that has disgracefully masqueraded as “regional transit” in the area for far too long.
Prompted by a surge in RTA passenger misconduct, including the altercation that provoked the uppercut seen ‘round the world, the Councilman proposed new legislation Monday night that would increase the penalty for attacking drivers or damaging RTA property, allow police officers to cruise RTA lines for free, and fine passengers who smoke, eat, drink, or listen to music without headphones.
Conwell attributed the viral Artis Hughes incident to “the party atmosphere” that has plagued the RTA ever since Bizzy Bone promoted line 10 as a choice venue for selling dummy crack rocks to score weed and the Transit Authority adopted its ill-advised “Budsmokers Only” campaign.
The RTA will ask its board of trustees tonight for $2 million to install cameras on buses and trains. So hop on now and eat those Funyuns like a boss, because if Conwell has his way, you can kiss your reckless days of music-listening, food-eating, beverage-drinking public transportation debauchery goodbye.
